Ratanakkiri jail corruption probe ends

An investigation into alleged corruption and malpractice by the director of Ratanakkiri Provincial Prison following a complaint filed by dozens of prison officers has concluded with mixed results.

Tin Sovanny was accused on December 6 of using inmates as a private labour force, profiting from prison businesses and having sex with an inmate – allegations he has denied.

Sorn Keo, a spokesman for the general department of prisons at the Ministry of Interior, said yesterday that the investigation had discovered that some of the complaints were accurate, but there was not enough evidence to support others, including the claim he pressured an inmate into having sex with him.

“The female prisoner denied in front of the committee that she had sex with the accused. She said he moved her [to Sovanny’s house] to help with the chores after Sovanny’s children moved out,” he said.

Keo added that he had not received the final written report from the committee, so he could not elaborate on the finer points of the investigation.

Chhom Sreypich, deputy director of the prison and one of the officials who filed the complaint, said she hoped the complainants “would get some solutions from the committee”.

However, Sovanny was confident he would be cleared, saying he had not committed any of the alleged infractions.

“On the other hand, I am concerned about the conclusions they will draw, because I have no doubt that these complaints were motivated by someone wanting to take my position as the prison director.

I think that person incited others to file the suit against me.”

Sovanny has retained his position as prison director throughout the course of the probe.

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